Convertible single and multi-seat stroller
A stroller device comprising at least one carriage, the carriage comprising a support unit for supporting at least one person, typically an infant, a wheels assembly coupled to the support unit, an engagement element for engaging the carriage to another such carriage and a pivoting element coupled to the support unit allowing rotating the support unit with respect to the carriage. The support unit may be rotatably reoriented so as to allow transporting the stroller device such that the support unit of the carriage and the other support unit of the other carriage can be aligned in a train state or alternatively in a side-by-side state.
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This application is a National Phase Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/IL2008/000577, entitled “Convertible Single and Multi-Seat Stroller”, International Filing Date Apr. 30, 2008, published on Nov. 13, 2008 as International Publication No. WO 2008/135974, which in turn claims priority from Israel Patent Application No. 183033, filed May 7, 2007, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to strollers and carriages. More specifically the present invention relates to a convertible single and multi-seat stroller
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONStrollers and carriages (hereinafter referred to as “strollers”) for the transportation of infants and small children have been in use for many years. Also in common use are strollers offering seating options for two children. Typically present day strollers are designed so as to have children seated in different and desired inclination angles and in a fixed-angle position facing frontward, in the direction of the advancement of the stroller. Various assemblies and designs have been developed for reversibly connecting two single strollers to a single double-seat stroller-unit, thus providing a choice of using a two-seater stroller only when necessary and increasing the ease and safeness of maneuverability when transporting two small children, not necessarily of the same age.
Given below are prior art patents listing different techniques for the connection of two single strollers to a single stroller unit:
In 1928 Chatfield R., in U.S. Pat. No. 1,707,186 invented a device comprising a stretchable wheel axis composed of a shaft with a sliding bar on which, at will, a single or two strollers could be positioned.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,938 Redmond T. and Redmond R. invented a device for connecting two baby strollers together consisting of a pair of bars or poll bracket units spaced apart and clamped between frames of the baby strollers so that a single person can operate the strollers simultaneously for transporting two babies therein.
In Patent Application WO2005/021351 Thompson J. and Peterson T. describe a device in which two strollers are reversibly connected by aligning and interlocking the front wheels of a stroller with the rear wheels of second stroller, thus more than two strollers can be connected in a column forming “a train” of strollers.
In GB 2,368,824 Colin A. describes a device comprising two independent strollers, referred to as “pushchairs”, that can be linked together in either a side-by-side or a column “train arrangement. The linkage is done by “securement members” that interlock the two strollers without any structural adjustments or changes in either of the pushchairs.
In GB 2,373,484 Sear L. and Croot C. describe a device comprising rails with a generally rectangular or tubular cross-section that reversibly secure and fasten frames of two strollers in a parallel side-by-side position. In the joint strollers formation one of the two wheels in the front and one of the two wheels in the rear may be inwardly folded by pivots so as to enable the maneuvering of single-stroller unit having just 6 wheels.
Typically, the present technology of connecting two strollers to a single stroller-unit, as described in the quoted patents, predetermines the fixation of the two strollers in either a side-by-side positioning or a longitudinal, “train” positioning.
In order to be conveniently store and easily transport various mechanical devices have been developed to enable the folding and collapsing of strollers. An example of such a prior art technique for folding is given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,106 by Shamie L. in which a stroller comprises two side frames supporting a fabric seat between them; the frames having the ability to fold inwardly by a scissor-motion of a support structure that connects the side frames together. Typically in present day strollers, either collapsible or fixed-frame stroller-units, are composed so that the length dimension of the strollers is predetermined and fixed.
The advantage of a stroller in accordance to the present invention is the ability to reversibly connect two independent strollers to a single stroller-unit and when doing so to have the ability to choose a desired state, either a side-by-side or longitudinal, “train” position. In addition to determining the state of two strollers, it is possible in accordance to the device of the present invention, by varying the swirl-angle of the seats to determine the direction-position of two children in connected strollers, either facing each other, facing opposite directions or partially facing each other.
Another advantage of a stroller in accordance to the present invention is the ability to change at will the longitude distance between two connected strollers, thus having the possibility of reducing the footprint of the connected strollers by shortening the length dimension of the stroller-unit, facilitating better maneuverability when required.
The ability to change at will the distance between two connected strollers has a significant bearing on tempering with the interaction between the children in the strollers, a factor that can be of major importance in transporting children.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThere is thus provided, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, a stroller device comprising at least one carriage, the carriage comprising a support unit for supporting at least one person, typically an infant, a wheels assembly coupled to the support unit, an engagement element for engaging the carriage to another carriage of said at least one carriage, and a pivoting element coupled to the support unit allowing rotating the support unit with respect to the carriage, facilitating the support unit to be rotatably reoriented so as to allow transporting the stroller device such that the support unit of the carriage and the other support unit of the other carriage can be aligned in a train state or alternatively in a side-by-side state.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the device comprises at least two carriages of said at least one carriage.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the engagement element comprises at least one bar and a connector provided with a bore for receiving a matching bar.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the engagement element comprises a hollow bar with an opening into which a matching bar may be inserted and slide.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the device comprises a compacting mechanism so as to facilitate reducing and alternatively increasing the footprint of the stroller device, when the stroller device comprises at least two carriages.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the compacting mechanism comprises a foot actuator.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the wheels assembly comprises at least three wheels.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the wheels assembly comprises four wheels.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the carriage comprises a push-handle.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the push-handle is foldable.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the length of the push-handle is adjustable.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the wheels assembly comprises an elevating mechanism for elevating at least one of the wheels with respect to the other wheels.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, at least one of the wheels is detachable from the wheels assembly.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, at least some of the wheels of the wheels assembly comprise swivel wheels.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the swivel wheels have a fixed position allowing fixing the swivel wheels in at least one orientation.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the swivel wheels can be fixed in four perpendicular orientations.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the support unit comprises a seat with an adjustable back-rest.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the support unit comprises an adjustable leg-rest.
Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the carriage is foldable.
In order to better understand the present invention, and appreciate its practical applications, the following Figures are provided and referenced hereafter. It should be noted that the Figures are given as examples only and in no way limit the scope of the invention. Like components are denoted by like reference numerals. In the Figures the term “frontal side” refers to the side of the single, small wheel, in a single stroller state, as illustrated in
The present invention is directed at a stroller device that enables the user to reversibly engage or connect (i.e. may be disconnected later) with ease two strollers to obtain a single stroller-unit. The connection can be by either coupling the two strollers in a longitudinal train-state or in a side-by-side state. When connecting, the distance between the connected strollers can be varied at will, from a “compacted” state, referred to as a state where the seats are close to each other, to a “stretched” state, where the seats are wide apart. In the “stretched” state the back of the seats of the frontal seating-position may be reclined substantially more than in the “compacted” state, adding to the comfort of transport. In the compacted state the footprint of the stroller-unit is considerably reduced as compared when in the extended “stretched” state, enabling easier maneuverability in crowded and narrow locations such as when traveling in narrow elevators or strolling along aisles in a shop.
When in a longitudinal train-state the direction of the two seats in the stroller-unit can be varied to either having both seats facing the direction of advancing, having the front seat facing the back seat, or having the seats perpendicular to each other. Together with the side-by-side state of the stroller unit, where the seats are positioned in parallel to the direction of advancing, the person guiding the stroller-unit can at will determine the sitting interaction between the two children in the stroller-unit, depending on circumstances and mood of the children.
Given below are schematic illustrations of the stroller in accordance with the present invention. It should be clear that the description of the embodiments and attached Figures set forth in this specification serves only for a better understanding of the invention, without limiting its scope.
In order to simplify the text describing and explaining the present invention the following abbreviations are used:
Seat Support Unit: SSU. The term “seat” refers to include both a proper seat and a cradle or crib for infants. The proper seat can be adjusted and fixed in various sitting states from up right sitting to reclining.
Wheels Assembly Construction: WAC. The term “wheels” refers to either a single wheel or a pair wheels assembled in parallel in a single functional unit.
Rear Wheel Axial Structure: RWAS,
Frontal Wheel Axial Structure: FWAS
To further clarify
Reversing the activities detailed above reverses the connection of compact-state strollers and reverses the compact state of each of the stroller. The bridging bar 50 is stretched by stepping on segment 62, illustrated in
Another embodiment of the present invention is an easy and comfortable connection of two not identically composed strollers, shown in
The “L” plates 140 and 142 of stroller 120 and plates 143 and 145 of stroller 122 are pivotally connected to connector 227 of bar 126 (and similarly to bar 124).
Curved bar 47 is perpendicularly and fixedly connected to the corners of the “L” shaped plates, 140 and 142. The bar runs through the “L” plates and has swirl wheel mechanisms 90 connected at both ends. The swirl wheel mechanism 90, as clarified in
Sliding ring bar 130 has two flanks 132 running diagonally downward in both side-directions. Wheels 138, 140, are connected to the bottom end of the flanks by a slot 148 (better seen in
To connect stroller 120 to stroller 122, sliding ring bar 128 is connected to sliding bar 130 using reversible locking mechanism (protruding snap pin 256 on bar 128 and catcher 258 on bar 130). The reversible snapping mechanism 252 and snap 250 (on sliding ring bar 128) are released from bar 124 and 126. Bar 126 is inserted into bar 124 and simultaneously, bar 124 is inserted into sliding bar 130 and sliding bar 152. When bar 124 reaches inside sliding bar 152, the reversible snapping mechanism 252 locks it in position. The wheels 134, 136 of stroller 122 and wheels 138, 139 of stroller 120 can be disengaged by raising them.
The sliding ring bars 128 and 130 of strollers 122 and 120, respectively, that support the wheels, can be individually of both removed when connecting the two strollers 120 and 122, leaving four ground rolling wheel-units without additional suspended wheels. The “L” plates (140, 142 in stroller 120 and 143, 145 in stroller 122) in both strollers support on the top a swirling seat-connection unit 135, which supports a seat 146. The push-handles 220 of the strollers, 120 and 122, comprise of folded open-ended rectangle bar 222 that can be either stretched or inserted, at will, through connection tubes 226 and into receiving tubes 224, fixed on both sides of the seat 146. See
The seat 146 has either an opened, “seatable” state or a folded, compacted state. To understand the transition from one state to the other
To fully fold and compact the stroller (stroller 120) the “L” shaped plates 140 and 142 are folded. See
Disengaging of the two strollers, 120 and 122, is done by reversing the activities described above for the joining of the strollers.
Another embodiment of a stroller that can connect to form a multi-seat stroller, in accordance to the present invention, is given in
The present invention introduces a novel design for strollers, allowing connecting two strollers in a side-by-side and alternatively in train configuration. At the same time, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention the joined strollers can be compacted offering greater maneuverability and comfort.
Conveniently, the two joined strollers can be easily disengaged and used separately.
It should be clear that the description of the embodiments and attached Figures set forth in this specification serves only for a better understanding of the invention, without limiting its scope.
It should also be clear that a person skilled in the art, after reading the present specification could make adjustments or amendments to the attached Figures and above described embodiments that would still be covered by the present invention.
Claims
1. A stroller device comprising at least two carriages connected together, wherein both carriages comprise:
- a support unit comprising a seat and a push handle connected to the seat,
- a wheels assembly rotatably coupled to the support unit, wherein the wheels assembly comprises two rear wheels and a frontal wheel axial structure on the front of the wheels assembly, wherein the frontal wheel axial structure comprises at least one front wheel, wherein each wheel is a swivel wheel capable of swiveling about a vertical axis and can be locked in four incremental 90 degree orientations the vertical axis;
- an engagement element for engaging the carriage to the other carriage of said at least two carriages, wherein the engagement element connects the carriages with the frontal wheel axial structures in a front to front position;
- a pivoting element coupled to the support unit allowing rotating the support unit, and
- a locking member capable of locking the support unit in perpendicular positions with respect to the wheels assembly, facilitating the support unit to be rotatably reoriented so as to allow transporting the stroller device such that the support unit of the carriage and the other support unit of the other carriage can be aligned in a train state wherein one of the carriages is behind the other carriage based upon the direction of motion of the stroller device and alternatively in a side-by-side state wherein where the seats are positioned in parallel to the direction of advancing with the handles behind each seat without disconnecting the carriages.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement element comprises at least one bar protruding forward from the front of the wheels assembly and a connector adjacent the bar provided with a bore for receiving a matching bar of the other carriage.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement element comprises a hollow bar with an opening into which a matching bar of the other stroller may be inserted.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stroller device has a folded configuration for storing the device and an unfolded configuration for using the stroller device to transport a child and the stroller device further comprises a compacting mechanism so as to facilitate reducing and alternatively increasing the distance between a from a compacted state, where the seats are close to each other, to a “stretched” state, where the seats are wide apart while the stroller is in the unfolded configuration.
5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the compacting mechanism comprises a foot actuator.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheels assembly comprises at least three wheels.
7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheels assembly comprises at least four wheels.
8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the push-handle is foldable.
9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the push-handle is adjustable.
10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the wheels assembly comprises an elevating mechanism for elevating at least one of the wheels with respect to the other wheels such that the stroller device rests on the four rear wheels.
11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the wheels is detachable from the wheels assembly.
12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swivel wheels have a fixed position allowing fixing the swivel wheels in at least one orientation.
13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein all of the wheels are swivel wheels and can be locked in four incremental 90 degree orientations.
14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support unit comprises a seat with an adjustable back-rest.
15. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support unit comprises an adjustable leg-rest.
16. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carriage is foldable.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Apr 30, 2008
Date of Patent: Dec 9, 2014
Patent Publication Number: 20100301585
Assignee: Baby Jogger, LLC (Richmond, VA)
Inventors: Geva Katz (Kiryat Ata), Oron Lazarovich (Rehovot)
Primary Examiner: Katy M Ebner
Assistant Examiner: Emma K Frick
Application Number: 12/599,356
International Classification: B62B 7/14 (20060101); B60B 33/02 (20060101); B60B 33/00 (20060101); B62B 7/10 (20060101); B62B 5/06 (20060101); B62B 7/04 (20060101); B62B 7/00 (20060101);